THE SECOND MONTH

THE THIRD MONTH
HEDAR 16
(November 25)

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ONE GOD. AMEN.

On this day was consecrated the church of the blessed Saint ‘Abunafer, the dweller in the desert, [which is built] outside the city of Mesr (Cairo). Salutation to the consecration of thy house outside the city of Mesr (Cairo), which thou protect from heat and from cold by the hair of thy head and thy flowing beard.

And on this day also died the holy father, Abba John, the forty-eighth Archbishop of the city of Alexandria. This father was from the country of Cyprus, and he was exceedingly rich, and he lived in the city of Alexandria; and his father was governor of the city and he had married a wife and begotten children. After this his wife died and his children, and forthwith he gave all his possessions to the poor and needy. And he became a monk and he fought strenuously and became an ascetic, and he multiplied greatly his ascetic labors. And he pleased God by his works, and his faith, and the beauty of his singing, and his righteousness, and his excellence. And all the bishops of the country of Egypt agreed together, and they took him against his will and they made him Archbishop of the city of Alexandria, and he took his seat upon the throne of Mark the evangelist. And he read the Holy Gospel and his light appeared in the manner wherein he fulfilled the duties of his position and his office, and he worked many miracles and wonders. And he used to give to the poor and needy each day regularly whatsoever they lacked, and because of this Abba John, Archbishop of the city of Alexandria, used to be called “the merciful.” And the Jews and pagans held him in great reverence, and they feared him and honored him, even as it is written in the history of his strife; and he shepherded his flock wisely and well, and he pleased God, and he died in peace. Salutation to Archbishop Kiri, who was called “John the Merciful.”

And on this day also Saint Xystus the bishop became a martyr by the hand of Maximus the governor, who tortured the holy man with severe tortures and then cut off his head with the sword. And Xystus received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. Salutation to Xystus the martyr.

And on this day also Saint Tatus (Tatia) became a martyr in the city of Rome, under Alexander the governor. Having had her brought before him he said unto her, “Sacrifice to my gods”; and she said, “I will only sacrifice to Jesus Christ my God.” And the governor commanded [his soldiers] to strip off the veil of her face, and when he saw her he marveled at her beauty. Her eyes were like the stars of the heavens, her figure was like the palm, and her beauty was like that of the rose; and there was none who could be compared with her at that time. When the governor saw her his heart was carried away by love for her, and he said unto her, “Obey me. Offer sacrifice to the great god Apollo, and I will make thee mistress of the palace.” And Saint Tatus (Tatia) said unto him, “I am the bride of Jesus Christ, and I will worship none but He. Permit me to go into the shrines of thy gods for I would see their power”; and the governor took her into the house of his gods. And when Saint Tatus (Tatia) had gone in she prayed and entreated God to destroy the idols, and straightway there was an earthquake, and the idols fell down from their thrones, and Apollo, their greatest idol, fell down and was broken in pieces, and many of the priests of the temple died. And the foul spirit who was in Apollo cried out, saying, “What hast thou to do with me, O holy woman of God? Behold thou hast broken in pieces my abode, and thou hast cast me out from it.” When the emperor saw this he commanded his soldiers to throw her down on her face and to beat her with whips until the blood flowed from her body, now her blood was as white as milk, and they beat her until their muscles were tired. And the angels of God inflicted pains on those who were beating her, but their torturing affected Saint Tatus (Tatia) in no way. And the emperor also commanded the soldiers to give her to a famished lion, but when the lion came to her he crouched at her feet and licked them; and a voice came from heaven, saying, “Rejoice, O pure one, for I am with thee.” And when the emperor saw that there was no way of touching her he commanded the soldiers to cut off her head with the sword, and the soldiers did so, and she finished her fight. And the Bishop of Rome came by night, and he wrapped her body up in costly cloths, and laid it in a chest inlaid with gold and silver, and innumerable miracles took place through her body. Salutation to Tatus (Tatia), perfect within and without, the dust at whose feet the lion licked.

And on this day also are commemorated Daniel the monk, and the Emperor Honorius. This Abba Daniel was a fighter in the desert of Scete, in the monastery of Abba Mararius, and he lived for forty years and a half without tasting bread, or fish, or honey, or oil, for he ate nothing except herbs and water. And after he had done this for [many] days, a boastful idea came to him, and he said in his heart, “Who is there among the dwellers in the desert of Scete that can fast as long as I do?” When God saw the pride of his heart He sent unto him a shining angel who said unto him, “Why, O Daniel, dost thou boast thyself thus arrogantly, which is not good? Our Lord Jesus Christ desires not pride but lowliness, and fear, and trembling.” And Daniel said unto the angel, “Tell me, my lord, if there is anyone better than myself so that I may go and see him and I will confess to my God that I have sinned.” And the angel said unto him, “Honorius, Emperor of Rome (Constantinia), is a pure and holy man, and a fearer of God, he shall be thy companion in the kingdom of the heavens.” When Abba Daniel heard this he bowed and knelt down on the ground, and threw dust on his head, and he asked God to bring him to the City of Rome (Constantinia) in His wisdom and power and to show him the emperor. And whilst he was praying thus a cloud came by the command of God and brought him to the gates of Constantinia, and he found there a servant of the Emperor Honorius. When the servant saw Abba Daniel, he was blessed by him, and he said unto him, “O my father, what is thy wish? For what hast thou come hither?” And Abba Daniel said unto him, “If thou art able to lead me to one of the nobles of the city so that he may take me to the emperor, [do so].” And the servant said unto him, “If I myself could take thee to the emperor wouldst thou come?” And Abba Daniel said unto him, “If thou hast power to bring me to him God be blessed.” And the servant said unto him, “O my father, what wouldst thou do with the sight of an earthly and mortal emperor? Would it not be better for thee to see the kingdom of the heavens?” And Abba Daniel said unto him, “If my God had not commanded me I should not have come hither.” And the servant said unto him, “Wait, O my father, until I buy what my master requires”; and straightway he bought bread, and salt, and vegetables, and vinegar. And the servant took him to the place where Honorius was with a fellow monk, whose name was Eulogius, according to his custom. After Honorius returned from the place of [giving] judgment, he put on sackcloth and clean raiment and sat down. And the servant leaving Abba Daniel outside the door went in, and when Honorius saw him he said unto him, “Art thou mad that thou makest Abba Daniel to stand outside the door?” And Honorius went out with his companion, and he received Abba Daniel, and bowed down at his feet, and they saluted each other with greetings of peace, and they went into the chamber and sat down; and at the ninth hour the servant brought them food to eat, and they rose up and prayed. Now Abba Daniel was afraid to eat bread lest he should fall ill, and he said unto Honorius and his companion, “O my lords, murmur not against me because I do not eat bread; it is not through pride that I refrain but through fear of sickness.” Then they gave him a few herbs and he ate according to his wont. When they had finished the prayer of the table Honorius enquired of Abba Daniel about his coming. And Abba Daniel said unto him, “If thou art able I wish thee to bring me to the Emperor, for I have come [to see him] at the command of Christ.” And on the following day Honorius put on royal apparel, which bewitched the sight, and he sat upon his throne, and he made [his servant] bring in Abba Daniel. And when Daniel saw the emperor he was afraid and trembled, and the servant seeing his fear took him from there and brought him to his abode. When the judging was ended Honorius threw off his [royal] apparel, and put on the garb of the monk, and went back to his dwelling. And when Abba Daniel saw him, he said, “Why didst thou not take me to the king, so that I might tell him what is in my heart and return to my place?” And Honorius said unto him, “Why didst thou come?” And Abba Daniel said unto him, “Thy servant brought me”; and when Honorius heard this he marveled and said unto him, “I am Honorius whom men call ‘Emperor of the Earth,’ and thou hast seen me sitting on my transitory throne.” When Abba Daniel heard this he bowed down at his feet, and adjured him to tell him the story of all his life. And the Emperor Honorius told him that for forty years he had neither eaten food nor worn raiment which he had not earned by the labor of his hands, that is to say the weaving of palm fiber, that what was left of his daily food he gave to the poor, that his food was bread, and herbs, and vinegar and salt, that he never cursed any man, that he never craved for the goods of any man, and that he had kept himself a virgin. When Abba Daniel heard this he said unto him, “Forgive me for boasting myself over thee”; and Abba Daniel departed to his place sorrowfully, and in tears. After two months had passed Honorius and his teacher Eulogius agreed together, and he departed from the palace, and God sent an angel who carried him to Abba Daniel, and they finished their strife and they both died on the same day; and Eulogius and his disciple also died on that day. Salutation to Honorius and to Abba Daniel his companion. Salutation to Eulogius and to his servant who dwell together in heaven.

Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.